Real Betis have taken an alternative approach to a contentious refereeing performance - by taking clips from the recent game against Athletic Bilbao of controversial decisions and putting them on YouTube! Betis were incensed by three decisions by Spanish official Gil Manzano during the weekend game, which finished 2-0 to Bilbao. The video has amassed 14,000 views by Tuesday but was published on the club's official YouTube channel as a response to the performance of Manzano. The three incidents which Betis complained about were that Ruben Castro was denied a penalty, Athletic's penalty was … [Read more...]
Ronaldo Sees Red As Real Are Rocked
Cristiano Ronaldo received a farcical red card last night, as Real Madrid were held 1-1 by in form Athletic Bilbao. It was a cagey first half, Madrid had more attacking intent but lacked the killer touch in front of Iraizoz's goal. Benzema and Ronaldo both looked out of sorts. Gareth Bale was missing again, despite Ancelotti having indicated that he should be fit for the match. Bilbao seemed determined to hang on to their proud home record. They are yet to lose in the league at their new San Mames home. The match was becoming increasingly tetchy. Madrid knew that a win would take them into … [Read more...]
Atletico set up mouth watering semi-final
Atletico Madrid won a close encounter with Athletic Bilbao 2-1 to progress into the Copa Del Rey semi-finals. There was little to separate the teams on paper. Atletico are still joint-top of La Liga, but it is Athletic who have been in the better form. Atletico held a 1-0 win from last week's first leg but as Athletic had never been beaten at their new Sam Mames arena, it was the Bilbao team who were favourites in many people's eyes. Athletic started the match full of confidence. Atletico's on loan keeper Thibault Courtois keeping them in the game against a tide of aggression. Diego Simeone … [Read more...]
Athletic Romp To Victory Over Osasuna
Athletic Bilbao eased to a superb 5-1 victory at Osasuna, cementing their place in the fourth Champion's League spot. Athletic's previously off-form striker Aritz Aduriz regained his scoring touch. He grabbed two goals and set up another for substitute Ibai Gomez. A man of the match performance. Osasuna are only three points from the drop zone now. Their problem all season has been scoring goals, but when Armanteros scored a tenth minute free-kick equaliser to cancel out a fourth minute goal from Athletic's Susaeta, things were looking promising. Little did they know that the floodgates were … [Read more...]
Athletic Bilbao 4-2 Real Valladolid
A fantastic game at the San Mames Barria last night saw Athletic Bilbao run out 4-2 winners over Real Valladolid. The three points takes Athletic back up to fourth in La Liga, in their personal duel against Villareal for a Champion's League spot. Valladolid, deep in a relegation dogfight, took a surprise lead on 15 minutes through Oscar. It was enough to take them into a half-time lead and Athletic's unbeaten run at home this season looked to be under threat. The second half was a whole different affair. The equaliser came on 65 minutes from Ibai. Oscar de Marcos,who came on as a substitute … [Read more...]
Copa Del Rey Round-Up
There were four matches in the Copa del Rey last night and La Liga Blog, your first stop for all the latest Spanish football news, brings you the details here. AD Alcorcon 1-0 Espanyol The Madrid based minnows Alcorcon made light of their Segunda Division form, they are currently in a lowly sixteenth position, by taking a one nil victory over Espanyol in the first leg of this round of 16 match. The goal was scored by second half substitute Dani Pacheco, once of Liverpool, but they will have it all to do on their return leg in Barcelona next week. Real Betis 1-0 Athletic Bilbao Real Betis, at … [Read more...]
Bilbao return to their imperious best
Athletic Bilbao's resounding victory over Atletico Madrid on Sunday sent shockwaves of fear reverberating around the Primera Division. In a repeat of the 2012 Europa League final, Bilbao gave Atletico a real lesson and a slice of revenge for the humiliation in Bucharest last season, winning 3-0. We saw shades of Bilbao returning to the force they once were and the team we'd yearned to see for so long, but can the team achieve moderate success in light of their outstanding season in 2011/12? … [Read more...]
5 La Liga stars who could be on the move this January
Having arrived on British shores unknown in the summer, Swansea striker Michu has exploded onto the scene, briefly topping the Premier League scoring charts with 13 goals to his name. Priced at roughly £2m, he is proving to be the bargain of the season and other clubs have begun to focus on what gems could be unearthed beneath the Barca-Real dominance. We detail 5 potential exports who could make a similar impact in foreign leagues from some of the unheralded La Liga teams. … [Read more...]
What has happened to Athletic Bilbao?
Since losing in two major cup finals last season, Athletic Bilbao have disappeared from the the footballing radar of late. The Basque side are well off of the pace in Spanish La Liga and tumbled out of the Europa League on Thursday despite not travelling to a war troubled Israel for their game. This is the exact team who humbled Manchester United in the competition last season, so why have the club faltered so much lately? Bilbao suffered defeat in both the Europa League and Copa del Rey finals and a summer exodus of their impeccably talented roster … [Read more...]
Barca win late but Real slip up – European round up
Seven La Liga sides were in European action this week with five of them picking up valuable wins in both the Champions League and Europa League. There were no draws between the teams from Spain and anyone else, sadly for Real Madrid who lost to Borussia Dortmund, but one game almost shocked the football world which had remained level up until the dying seconds. Barcelona's narrow victory over Celtic very nearly had the Nou Camp raging but a 94th minute goal from Jordi Alba ensured … [Read more...]